Today has been fun, right? After sharing the download for the Android P Developer Preview 1, listing out the developer changes coming with P, giving you the new Pixel Launcher from P, letting you know that the 6P/5X/Pixel C are all done, and that we have an ongoing list of changes you’ll notice, we’ve now … Continued

This is almost 18 minutes of Android P changes that developers will be able to take advantage of through their apps, plus we walk through a lot of the UI tweaks you and I will most certainly notice.

While we are documenting most of this stuff at this post, this video does highlight Android P’s notch support, the refreshed notifications panel, what’s changed in settings, updated volume controls, and more. Android P may not be a massive UI refresh, but there are plenty of changes to talk about.

On the developer side of Android P, we know what’s new, thanks to a blog post and entire Android P Developer Preview portal from Google. But what about the other stuff? What about the UI changes or subtle tweaks to Android that maybe didn’t get a big callout from Google? We figure that you’ll still … Continued

On the developer side of Android P, we know what’s new, thanks to a blog post and entire Android P Developer Preview portal from Google. But what about the other stuff? What about the UI changes or subtle tweaks to Android that maybe didn’t get a big callout from Google? We figure that you’ll still want to know about them all, so here’s a list of the fun new Android P features we’re stumbling on.

(We’ll be updating this regularly.)

Updated Pixel Launcher

We already showed off the updated Pixel Launcher at this post, but yeah, we should still mention that it’s getting an update with Android P. The changes are minor and mostly just include a subtle shading to the bottom tray, as well as a microphone button in the Google bar.

Side volume controls, device menu

Another UI tweak I think most of you will love is the change to volume controls. When pressing your volume buttons, you’ll now see a vertical volume menu, similar to the power menu introduced with Android 8.0. You have a volume slide on-screen that you scroll up or down, a mute button, and separate button to change your phone to silent, vibrate, or volume-on.

Not only that, but there is now a device menu, where you can see the devices you are connected to, their battery life, etc. You access that by tapping on the “Media” area at the top of this new volume menu.

Power menu gets screenshot button

Hey, look at that, a screenshot button in the power menu! That’s pretty handy. Of course, you can still press and hold volume down + power for a second to do the same action, but this is neat, for those times where you can’t make that double-button-pressing-action happen.

New “Markup” screenshot editor

Speaking of screenshots – after taking a screenshot on Android P and tapping the “Edit” button in the notification for it, you’ll get to choose whether you want to edit that screenshot in Google Photos or a new Markup tool. If you choose Markup, you’ll get quick access to cropping, as well as pens and highlighters (with color options). When done, you’ll tap a check mark that’ll save your edited screenshot to your Photos library for sharing.

Additionally, you can access Markup while viewing an image in Google Photos’ edit tool by tapping the bottom right corner, where Photos offers up additional apps to edit in.

Clock moves to the left, ugh.

I’ll let you decide how you feel about this.

Refreshed notification panel arrives

The biggest UI change I think everyone will notice is in the notification area. Not only is Google adding even more features to notifications (like full images, clearer contact info, etc.), they’ve given us a rounded-corner card appearance now. In addition to the cards, the notification quick settings panel is no longer paginated, plus some items have moved around.

For example, the date and time have moved to the top left, the carrier has moved to the bottom left of the quick settings panel, and battery sits alone in the top right corner.

Outside of the re-arrangement and rounded corners, you’ll notice we now have color circles to let us know when settings are on or off. The dropdown menus for certain items (like WiFi or Bluetooth) are gone, so you’ll have to long-press each if you want more settings.

We have text zooming!

OMG.

We’re back to describing drag actions on the home screen.

Google can’t seem to decide what it wants to do when it comes to grabbing and dragging icons on a home screen. For a long time, it showed “Remove,” “App info,” and “Uninstall,” before removing the words in stable Oreo. Now, in Android P DP1, they are back.

About Phone menu changes

Google has once again rearranged the About Phone menu. The phone number, along with WiFi MAC, IP, and Bluetooth addresses are now on the About page. Also, to access the security patch level, you tap on the Android Version, which shows you a pop-up with kernel, build, and baseband. You can still tap like crazy on the Android version in this new pop-up to get to the Easter Egg.

Curious about Android P notch support?

With this first Android P Developer Preview, we get to see how Google plans to treat all of the notches that are coming to Android phones. So far, I’m not a fan, and that’s because they moved the clock over to the left in the status bar, which is an area that notifications are supposed to live in. That’s a bad move since the notch is already killing space for notification icons. You can see that even on a phone like the Pixel 2 XL, this notch setup will only show me 2 notifications before the “…” arrives to tell me there are more.

Swiping on either side provides the same pulldown action. In other words, Google isn’t copying Apple’s take on the notch, which gives you different actions depending on which side of the notch you swipe from.

Also, this is how a notch will treat items that want to go full screen, like photos. It’s not pretty, unless you love black bars surrounding your content.

Do Not Disturb separates from Volume control

Do Not Disturb (DND) controls are now a separate setting outside of volume. In the past, you could shoot your volume all of the way down and it would trigger DND. That’s no longer the case. Now, you have to toggle DND on or off, or set a time for it to expire. If you just want to silence your phone, you have to do that through the volume settings panel I mentioned above.

You can still set schedules and define DND by rule type. There are a couple of new settings, though, both that allow you to decide what happens to notifications when your screen is off or on.

For now, the best way to get into DND is to tap the DND shortcut in quick settings or set a schedule.

New Lockdown Mode arrives

Android P adds a new “lockdown” mode that is enabled through lock screen preferences. With this enabled, it kills the fingerprint reader temporarily, as well as extended access. In order to get into your phone, you’ll need to enter your pattern, password, or PIN. Once you do, it opens back up like normal.

We’re still taking in as much of the Android P Developer Preview 1 as we can, so that we can share all of the new bits of information from it. Before we get to a big overview video and after you’ve read through the list of changes that Google shared, we thought we’d give you … Continued

We’re still taking in as much of the Android P Developer Preview 1 as we can, so that we can share all of the new bits of information from it. Before we get to a big overview video and after you’ve read through the list of changes that Google shared, we thought we’d give you a bonus to get started yourself. Here is the new Android P Pixel Launcher!

Both Tim and I installed this without an issue on our Pixel 2 XL units running Android 8.1. I also was able to install it on an Essential Phone running their 8.1 beta. Those are all the devices I have in front of me at the moment, so I can’t test on anything lower than that, unfortunately.

This is Pixel Launcher v9-4623511 for those curious.

Feel free to give it a shot. Let us know if your device is able to run it or not in the comments and we’ll update this post with notes.

IT WORKS. LOOK AT THAT. TRY IT. YESSSSSSSS. But you’ll need to be in the Google Play Services beta, more than likely, assuming you try on your Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL to pull this month’s security update and it fails. You can enroll in that here. How fun. What. A. … Continued

Google just dropped the March 2018 security patch for Nexus and Pixel devices on us. At this time, we already have both factory image and OTA files, so choose whichever works best for you if you don’t feel like waiting for the update to show up on your device. So far, we are seeing new 8.1.0 files … Continued

Google just dropped the March 2018 security patch for Nexus and Pixel devices on us. At this time, we already have both factory image and OTA files, so choose whichever works best for you if you don’t feel like waiting for the update to show up on your device.

Google’s Pixel Visual Core just got an update today through Google Play to v1.0.185741828. There isn’t a changelog for the update, so we don’t know what Google tweaked here. However, this app (or service) “updates image processing and machine learning algorithms on Pixel 2 phones,” so I’d assume any update means Google has done some … Continued

Google’s Pixel Visual Core just got an update today through Google Play to v1.0.185741828.

There isn’t a changelog for the update, so we don’t know what Google tweaked here. However, this app (or service) “updates image processing and machine learning algorithms on Pixel 2 phones,” so I’d assume any update means Google has done some tweaking.

Just this month, Google turned on the Pixel Visual Core for all 3rd party apps that want to take advantage of its processing power and HDR+ skills. It could be that this update improves that experience for other camera apps.

A reader asked me the other day if they should ditch their original Google Pixel or Pixel XL for the Essential Phone, since there are always so many good deals on the Essential Phone. I told them, no. I did that because they wanted a great camera and there still aren’t many phones that can … Continued

A reader asked me the other day if they should ditch their original Google Pixel or Pixel XL for the Essential Phone, since there are always so many good deals on the Essential Phone. I told them, no. I did that because they wanted a great camera and there still aren’t many phones that can best even the original Pixel phones in that department.

So if you want a great camera and don’t have a ton of cash to spend, we’ve got a great deal for you today. Woot is offering up both the smaller Google Pixel and larger Pixel XL with huge discounts. The discounts are likely there because each is refurbished, but I don’t know that that would deter me if I had a $300 budget and wanted a phone this good.

UPDATE: As was noted in the comments, this is listed under Woot’s “Scratch & Dent” category, so that does indeed mean there could be minor scratches or dents or scuffs. Specifically, “they may have minor cosmetic blemishes to the body of the unit and surface scratches on the screen.”

Woot’s deal includes the Pixel with 32GB or 128GB and in any color (black, white, blue), starting at $279.99 (32GB) and topping out at $314.99 (128GB). If you want the bigger Pixel XL, they’ve also got 32GB or 128GB versions and all colors. The 32GB model is $299.99 and the 128GB model is $329.99.

These phones are listed as being the US variants that work on all carriers, including Verizon. In the box you’ll get the phone, an AC adapter, and Type-C cable.

Fan of Wes Anderson films and own a Pixel or Pixel 2? You’ve got exclusive content to consume involving his latest film, “Isle of Dogs.” Google announced today that a behind the scenes virtual reality experience for the movie is now available through the Spotlight Stories app. What is “Isle of Dogs?” It’s a stop … Continued

Fan of Wes Anderson films and own a Pixel or Pixel 2? You’ve got exclusive content to consume involving his latest film, “Isle of Dogs.” Google announced today that a behind the scenes virtual reality experience for the movie is now available through the Spotlight Stories app.

What is “Isle of Dogs?” It’s a stop motion film about a pack of dogs on a trash-filled island who try and help a boy find his own dog on the island. I know that sounds odd and a bit silly, but if you’ve seen “Fantastic Mr. Fox” then you know what the style of this film and commentary will be like, that it’ll have a bunch of noteworthy actors as the voices (Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, etc.), and it’ll probably end cleverly.

To experience the VR story from the film on your Pixel phone, you’ll need some sort of virtual reality viewer, like a Daydream View. If you already do, then download the Spotlight Stories app below and fire it up.

Google’s Project Fi really wants you to leave your current carrier and come join its wireless party. Google is currently trying to entice you to do that by offering you an $80 credit if you come over and buy a Project Fi phone, like the Pixel 2, Pixel XL, or Moto X4. If you come … Continued

Google’s Project Fi really wants you to leave your current carrier and come join its wireless party. Google is currently trying to entice you to do that by offering you an $80 credit if you come over and buy a Project Fi phone, like the Pixel 2, Pixel XL, or Moto X4.

If you come on over and buy a phone, you’ll get the $80 credit once you activate it and keep it active for 30 days. This isn’t one of those sneaky Verizon or T-Mobile deals where they spread out whatever credit you get over 24 months. With this deal, you should have your $80 within two months.

The number of phones a company sells isn’t typically an area we focus a lot of our time on, here at Droid Life, but when numbers for companies like Google and Essential pop up, it’s worth a minute of discussion. For Google, we get to see if their seriousness in hardware is paying off, while … Continued

The number of phones a company sells isn’t typically an area we focus a lot of our time on, here at Droid Life, but when numbers for companies like Google and Essential pop up, it’s worth a minute of discussion. For Google, we get to see if their seriousness in hardware is paying off, while Essential’s early numbers could tell us if anyone even noticed they exist. According to numbers from IDC’s research director, Google is showing growth in Pixel sales, while Essential reached fewer people than attend a single Michigan football game.

For 2017, IDC shows that Google shipped 3.9 million phones, double its 2016 volume. That’s not a large number, in case you were wondering, if you compare to the quarterly numbers from companies like Samsung and Apple. Still, doubling anything is never a bad thing and I can’t imagine becoming a household name in smartphone hardware is ever an overnight thing. We’ll see if Google can maintain a similar increase for 2018.

If there is a takeaway here, I think it’s that 2018 will be huge for both companies. Google’s Pixel 2 phones are not only well-liked and well-reviewed, but Google has really pushed one of its bigger advertising campaigns for them. I’ll be curious to see how consumers react. And with Essential, you have to assume they’ve learned a ton of valuable lessons after their first phone launch and should only be able to improve with their next.

New AR stickers are here for your Pixel and Pixel 2! Google told us that new sticker packs were coming and they went live today. We’ve got Winter Sports and Blocks AR stickers, both of which need an update to the AR Stickers app in order to work on your Pixel phone. That’s annoying, since … Continued

We’ve got Winter Sports and Blocks AR stickers, both of which need an update to the AR Stickers app in order to work on your Pixel phone. That’s annoying, since Google is still slowly rolling out updates in stages and no one ever gets them within the first few days, but I’m sure all you APK bros can figure out where to find the v1.1 update.

The Winter Sports AR stickers arrive just in time for the Winter Olympics. You’ll find new stickers like a winter bear, skier, hockey player, ice skater, snowman and tree. In the Blocks AR stickers pack, you’ll find items including a boombox, microphone, stack of cash, and champagne bottle that you can play spin-the-bottle with.

What are Google AR Stickers? The fun little animated objects that you can place in photos or videos through the Pixel camera app to spice things up some. To use AR Stickers on your Pixel or Pixel 2, open the camera app, swipe on the side menu, and tap the “AR Stickers” option. From there, browse through the different sticker packs, then drag and drop the ones you want to use onto your camera feed. Snap away.

Just this morning, your boy was being his usual smarmy self on Twitter by taking subtweety shots at Google and their Pixel phones’ “Check for update” button, because it still doesn’t work after one of their engineers told us a couple of times now that it probably should. The timing there is now pretty funny, … Continued

Just this morning, your boy was being his usual smarmy self on Twitter by taking subtweety shots at Google and their Pixel phones’ “Check for update” button, because it still doesn’t work after one of their engineers told us a couple of times now that it probably should. The timing there is now pretty funny, as a Google Play Services update began rolling out today that appears to activate that button, just like we were told it would. Go, me!

According to a reddit thread, a number of users have been able to update to Google Play Services 12.2.09 on their Pixel 2 (Pixel 2 XL and original Pixels possibly too) devices, head into Settings>System>System update>Check for update, and pull the latest February security patch. Some tried hitting the button before updating and received no update, but did immediately after grabbing the new version.

The trick here seems to be to get into the Google Play Services beta track, which you can do by opening this link on your phone, scrolling to the bottom of the app’s listing, and joining the beta. Once you do that, you should receive an update into Google Play Services (beta). If you get the 12.2.09 update, then feel free to jump into settings and check for the update. If you don’t, and instead sit on 11.9.76 (like me), the update button still won’t work.

I wish I could 100% confirm to you that Google Play Services v12 is our hero, but I’m stuck on 11.9.76, even as a beta participant. Also, I’m fully aware that sideloading the latest version is a possibility. That said, sideloading Google Play Services apps from .apk sites isn’t always the best idea and should probably be avoided. Should you install the wrong version of Google Play Services, you could really make your phone a living hell for a while.

Here’s what you should consider doing if you want to become a “Check for update” mashing pro that finds satisfaction in that button finally doing something after all these years – join the beta as I described above.

Google just dropped the February 2018 security patch for Nexus and Pixel devices on us, the same update that should include 3rd party access for camera apps with Pixel Visual Core. At this time, we already have both factory image and OTA files, so choose whichever works best for you if you don’t feel like waiting for … Continued

Google just dropped the February 2018 security patch for Nexus and Pixel devices on us, the same update that should include 3rd party access for camera apps with Pixel Visual Core. At this time, we already have both factory image and OTA files, so choose whichever works best for you if you don’t feel like waiting for the update to show up on your device.

If you cruise over to the Android Beta Program page today, you’ll more than likely have a message awaiting you that says “there are no eligible devices associated with this Google account.” That’s odd, right? You own a Pixel or Pixel 2 or Nexus 6P and typically see those devices listed with buttons to enroll … Continued

If you cruise over to the Android Beta Program page today, you’ll more than likely have a message awaiting you that says “there are no eligible devices associated with this Google account.” That’s odd, right? You own a Pixel or Pixel 2 or Nexus 6P and typically see those devices listed with buttons to enroll or unenroll from the program. Don’t freakout, Google is just cleaning up the program’s page, we’re told.

The reason you aren’t seeing any of your devices listed at the moment, for one, is because there aren’t any betas running. We’re at stable Android 8.1 at this point. And that makes sense, but again, even with no betas running, we’re pretty sure this page still used to list out your devices that were eligible and would let you enroll or unenroll at any time. You also just stayed enrolled in the Android Beta from one to the next, even with stable releases in between.

Either way, Google plans to update the Android Beta page and make it clearer that there are no betas running at the moment. I’d imagine that they’ll add the Pixel 2 and 2 XL to the list of eligible devices too, and hopefully give you the power to enroll or unenroll again, especially since many of you needed to unenroll in order to pickup stable 8.1.

With the introduction of Android 8.1, Google tossed in a feature that’ll surely come in handy as you enter a public space and want to jump on an open WiFi network. It’s a speed estimate or speed label that’ll tell you the type of connection you should expect should you connect. Unfortunately, until today, it … Continued

With the introduction of Android 8.1, Google tossed in a feature that’ll surely come in handy as you enter a public space and want to jump on an open WiFi network. It’s a speed estimate or speed label that’ll tell you the type of connection you should expect should you connect. Unfortunately, until today, it hasn’t been included in Android 8.1, though that is changing now.

Google first mentioned WiFi Speed Labels as they were announcing the rollout of Android 8.1 stable in early December. Then, they told us a week or so ago on Twitter that the feature was now ready, but quickly deleted that tweet, causing some confusion. This morning, they re-posted that tweet, which hopefully means today is the day.

What are Android 8.1 WiFi Speed Labels?

You can see how they’ll look in the GIF below, but the basics are as follows. When you turn on WiFi and pull up a list of nearby WiFi networks, your phone will tell you if they are Slow, OK, Fast, or Very Fast. What do those tags mean? Let’s let Google explain:

Slow: If you can use Wi-Fi calling, you can make phone calls and send texts.

OK: You can read webpages, use social media, and stream music.

Fast: You can stream most videos.

Very Fast: You can stream very high-quality videos.

I know that still doesn’t tell us much, but at least we’ll get to see which networks might be worth avoiding as we contemplate connecting to one in an open setting. Also, if you don’t want Google to show these ratings, you can turn them off by heading into Settings>Network & Internet>Wi-Fi>Wi-Fi Preferences>Advanced>Network rating provider and choosing “None.”

Since this is an Android 8.1 feature, that means you’ll need a Google phone with 8.1 in order to get this, so a Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Nexus 6P, or Nexus 5X.